Bridgend Athletic
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into a thriving and successful section of the club . These days over 250 youngsters in all age groups from U7 – U16 play on a Sunday morning , proudly wearing the green and gold of the Athletic .
The dedication and commitment provided by the organisers of age grade rugby , including the quality of qualified coaches , first aiders and referees is impressive . The standard of mini / junior rugby at the Athletic is recognised throughout Wales and the British Isles and is reflected in the number of tournament invites and wins .
Most of the club ’ s senior squad have progressed through Junior and Youth rugby at the Athletic ; many started playing rugby at under 8 level and have played at all age levels up to Senior rugby . These include our most famous players , Wales & British Lions Rhys Webb and Lee Byrne , who have never forgotten their roots and regularly attend presentation nights and other club events . Rhys ’ son Regan played in this season ’ s Under 7 age group .
Others to achieve full Wales Caps include Scott Baldwin , Joshua Navidi , Matthew Morgan , Tom Prydie , Matthew Jones and Adrian Durston . Over 60 players are listed in the Club ’ s Welsh Caps Honours List at levels below full Senior International Level .
This season ’ s Annual Mini Festival attracted World Cup referee Nigel Owens to referee some games and exchange banter with Rhys who also refereed at the tournament . When Rhys asked Nigel
for some tips Nigel countered that Rhys always appeared to know everything about refereeing whenever he officiated him .
The M & J section , currently led by M & J secretary and Registration Secretary Angela Bennett , Treasurer Lynnette Harding , Child Welfare Officer Simon Swinford and Chairman Darren Beach , work closely with local schools where their player base come from . Ten BARFC Youth players started for Brynteg Comprehensive ’ s Welsh Schools U18 Champions win this season . Bryntirion Comprehensive host the Annual M & J Festival . The main primary schools supporting the Mini section are Oldcastle , 150 metres from the clubhouse , Litchard and Llangewydd .
The 1st XV , a truly amateur team , reached the second tier of Welsh Rugby a mainly semi- professional Championship in season 2012-2013 and finished respective mid table positions in the first three seasons before suffering relegation to Division 1 Central in season 2015-2016 . Five of the teams they competed against , semi -professional sides Swansea , Merthyr , Ebbw Vale , Bargoed and RGC1404 , now compete at Premiership level . The club defeated Merthyr , Bargoed and RGC1404 .
This season , fielding seven of last season ’ s National League Youth Championship side they finished in 3rd place in Division 1 West Central scoring 604 points and 80 tries in 22 league games . After losing 3 of the first 4 games they won 16 of the remaining 18 , including a six-month 14 match winning sequence . They recorded six league doubles , defeating every side except for champions Maesteg Quins .
They are coached by three former Athletic players , Head Coach John Apsee , backs coach Stuart Morris and forwards coach David Williams . Former Wales scrum half Gerald Williams has come on board this season . Paul Hearne has been Team Manager since 2008 . Stuart Morris , an eight times club captain is the Athletics ’ all time senior appearance record holder with 458 , top points scorer ( 3977 ) and most points in a season ( 393 ) record holder .
Former hooker Simon Mustoe , the youngest club captain at 21 , made 307
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